Roller window-screen.



E. V. MERCER.

ROLLER WINDOW SCREEN.

APPLICATION men 02cm. 191s Patenf'qwl Oct. 53 1, mm

2 SHEETS SHEH I,

EV/Vercar Wom J E. V. MERCER.

ROLLER WINDOW SCREEN,

APPLICATiON HLED DEC. 31. 19x5,

Patented Oct. 24, 1916.

SHEETS-SHEET 2.

['I lime/0e1- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ESLE V. MERCER, 0F WYANDOTTE, MICHIGAN.

ROLLER WINDOW-SCREEN.

To"!!! H'lwnt it may concern:

- Be it known that I. Esm; V. MERCER, a citizen of the United States. residing at \Yyandotte. in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roller Window-Screens. of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in window screens, the object of my invention being the provision of a roller window screen and housing of such a nature that they may he permanently attached to the window casing to permit raising and lowering of the screen at will in order that ready access to the windows for the purposes of cleaning them may he. had, and furthermore in order that the screen may he wholly inclosed in its housing when actually not needed, in order to protect it from dirt and dampness.

further ohject of my invention consists in the provision of a screen of the ahove descrilu'd character which is wound upon and unwound from a spring tensioned roller contained in the housing and in this con llt't'llUll l provide a novel means for operatively connecting the teusioning spring to the roller and to its shaft and a means for mounting its shaft or trunnion in the housine in ll('ll a manner that it may he inanually turned. it necesmrv. without removin; the roller from the housing to permit varying ot' the tension of the spring. In this connection with the above described spring roller. housing and screen. my invention further comprchends the provision of simple and ell'ective guides constructed in a novel manner from strips of sheet metal pressed to llllillllt shape and secured to the outer'sash strips of the window casing to receiw. guide and suppo'rt the lateral edges of the screen itself. the upper ends of these strips extending into the housing and supporting aml directing the screen toward the roller.

A. st ill further object of my invention con- 'sists in the provision of a novel form of bottom bar for the screen which serves to protect the lower free edge of the screen when it is extended, as a stop for limiting Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 31, 1915.

Patented Oct. 24, 1916.

Serial No. 69,592.

the winding of the screen upon the roller when the screen is released and as a handle for moving the screen to any desired position. I also provide a lock engageahle with this har when the screen is in fully extended position to hold the. screen against the tension of the spring.

With these and other objects in View, my invention will he more fully described. illustrated in the accompanying drawings. and then specifically pointed out in the claims which are attached to and form apart of this application.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a. fragmentary perspective view of the exterior of a building. showing my improved roller screen structure applied to a conventional form of window casing; Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view taken through the casing, screen housing and screen, showing the Screen in partially extended position; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken diametrically of the roller. showing certain details of housing and roller construction, the screen being omitted from the roller to render the disclosure more clear; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 4& of Fig. 3, illustrating the manner of connecting one end of the screen to its roller; Fig. 5 is a corresponding sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, illustrating the manner of connecting the spring to the roller and to its shaft or trunnion; Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the spring int-losing end of the casing showing the spring roller or trunnion in section to disclose the manner in which it is mounted in the casing; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary transv rse sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2. illustratingthe construction'of the guides for the lateral edges of the screen; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View taken through the lower edge of the screen and illustrating the manner in which the bottom bar or strip is connected to it.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters. 4

The preferred embodiment of my invention, as disclosed in the drawings, omprebends the provision of a casing, generally formed of s eet metal, adapted to be secured to the upper outer portion of any conven-' tional type of window casing and carrying a. spring roller to which is connected one end of a screen which may be drawn from the housing to extend the entire length of the window casing or over any desired portion thereof and any suitable arrangement of guides at the sides of the window casing to receive the lateral edges of the screen.

More specifically, I provide a housing, indicated as a whole by the numeral 10 and including end walls 11 and 12 which, at their inner ends, are provided with laterally di rected flanges 13 for engagement against the outer faces of the outer sash strips or rails 14 of the window casing 15. These flanges are perforated to receive screws 16 or other suitable fastening devices by means of which the end walls are mounted in place at the upper end of the window casing. The upper and lower edges of these end Walls are pro vided with outwardly directed cars 17 formed just outside of the window casing and with their outer'faccs in the planes of the respective edges of the end walls. The free ends of the end walls are rounded or semi-circular in shape, as clearly shown to conform to the inner face of the body portion proper 18 of the housing 10. body portion roper 18 of the housing is substantially Ll shaped in section, its intermediate portion engaging about the extended portions of the end walls and its side portions projecting in spaced relation to the sash strip 14 of the window casin in the manner shown in Fig. 4. The en s of the housing proper 18 extend slightly beyond the end walls and are apertured to receive bolts 19 which are passed through the cars 17 of the end walls and the housing and secured by nuts 20. The end wall 11 is formed centrally with an opening forming a hearin for one trunnion of the roller, as wilh'be ater explained and the other end wall 12 is formed .with an inwardly and downwardly extending slot 21 to receive the other trunnion ofthc roller, the inner end of this slot being in alinement with the opening in the opposite end wall and the slot adjacent such inner end being widened, as shown at 22. Mounted within this housing is the 1-oller,indicate(l as a whole by the numeral 23. This roller includes two heads 24 and 25 constituting its ends and a tubular body 26 connected at its ends to the heads. The head 24 is in the form'of a disk pro-- vided centrally with a stud or trunnion 27 which revolubly seats in the opening in the end wall 11 and formed upon its opposite or inner face with an annular flange 28 concentric to the trunnion 27 and seating in the connected end of the body 26 of the roller. The head 27 includes a circular body portion nthe inner end of 'to each other of such diameter as to seat within the connected end of the roller body 26 and formed with an outwardly directed annular flange 29 which, beyond the end of the roller, is formed with a peripheral flange 30 engaging the inner face iof the endwall 12 of the housing. This head 25 is also formed centrally with an outwardly directed hub ortion 31. The flanges 28 and 29 of the heads are provided at spaced intervals with shallow recesses or sockets and those portions of the roller ends overlying the sockets are instruck, as shown at 32 by means of which the heads are permanently connected to the ends of the roller.

Corresponding to the trunnion 27 is a bolt 33 which is passed inwardly through the slot 21 of the end wall \12 of the housing and through the hub of the head 25, the shank of the bolt adjacent its head which engages against the end wall being squared to seat in the slot 21 and thus be held against turning movement unless the roller as a whole is tilted to bring the shank portion of the bolt into engagement with the enlarged portion of the slot. That portion of the bolt shank extending beyond the head 25 is formed with a slot 34 and one end of a, s iral sprin 35 is seated in the inner end of t is slot, as est shown at 36 in Fig. 5. The opposite end of the spring 35 is formed with an eye '37 to engage about an inwardly directed in 38 extending from the head 25 adjacent its periphcral edge. A washer 39 is mounted u on the bolt to engage against and house in the spring and a nut 40 is threaded upon the boltto hold the washer in place and so prevent displacement of the spring from the bolt and pin 38. B means of this, it will be seen that one end of the springis connected to one of the heads of the roller and the op osite end of the spring connected to the xed trunnion formed by the bolt 33. y y

The body'26 of the rolle'r 23,is preferably formed of relatively heav sheet metal bent into cylindrical shape and with its overlappin'g edges soldered or otherwise secured, as shown at 41 in F i 4. The outer or overlapping edge of th s body is, however, prefcrably extended beyond the point of attachment to the edge which itoverlaps and is re bent upon itself to form a ing the entire length of the roller. screen 43, co-aeting with the above described roller, is, of course, formed of any suitable metal and has its upper edge bent upon itself. as shown at 44, to seat beneath the hooked edge 42 of the roller. By this means, the roller and screen are detachably secured without the necessity of any fastening devices whatsoever, it of course being understood that the screen is preferablv of such length that there will always be sufliciont of the wire netting book 42 extend i The wound about till the roller to prevent its displacement, even when the screen is drawn to fully extended position.

The strip of wire netting forming the screen 425 is of course equal in width to the width of the window casing to which it is pplietl and its lateral edges extend into and are supported and guided by guideways 4-3 srt ured to the window casing. The con struction and manner of mounting these guideways may be best understood from the transverse sectipnal view shown in Fig. T. Each of these guidewa s is formed from a single strip of sheet metal, substantially equal in length to the length of the window casing and bent to provide the U-shaped body 46. One of the longitudinal edges of this body is outwardly bent upon itself. as shown at 47, to reinforce the strip and also to present a smooth and neat appearance and the opposite edge of the strip is oorrcspondingtv rebent upon the bod to a point intermediate the length of the side of the body at which point it is outlicnt to extend at right angles to the body. as shown at it. This outbcnt portion is of the strip forms in effect an attaching flange and seats against the inner edge of the sash strip 1+ to which it is secured by screws or other suitable fastening, devices it). By this uaans. the guideways t5 are secured to the iderof the window casing to extend vertn'ally just in front of the sash strips l t with their open edges directed toward each other to receive the lateral edges of the rcen 43.

'l he lower or free end of the strip of netting: forming the screen 43 is bound in. pro tcctcd and reinforced by a bottom bar structure. indicated as a whole by the numeral and best illustrated in Fig. 8 of the draw lugs. This bottom bar includes two members 31 and 5:2 each formed from a single strip of sheet metal substantially equal in length to the width of the window. 'Ihe member 51 is bent in sueh a mannerjhat it is U-shaped in section with one free edge extending but a slight distance with respect to the other. The other free edge is rebent upon one side of the body portion. as shown at 53 to a point opposite the intermediate portion and then outbent. as shown at at. to extend at right angles to the doubled side portion of the strip. the free edge o'l' such outhcnt portion being doubled under. as shown at 55 to present a neat and finished appearance and to strengthen the strip as a whole.

(o'acting with the above stripis the str p 512 which is bent to provide a body portion U-shaped in cross section. as shown at. Fill. with one side proj cting beyond the other and outbent, as at 57. to correspond to the outhent portion 54 of the other strip, this i outbent portion being doubled under upon itself, as shownat 5H. 'lhow strips forming the reinforcing bar Jill arc connected to each other and to the free edge of the strip of netting forming the t'l't'tll by rcbcnding: the. free edge of the ncttiug. as shown at 3'. and seating such rebcnt edge of the netting bctween the side portions of the lnul ot' lllt' strip Bl. The tree idc portion of the strip .32 is then inserted bet ween the body of the strip of netting and its rebent terminal to clamp the netting in place. the interlocking portions of the two metal strips and the netting, all frictionallv engaging: each other. If necessary. pressure may be exerted against the outer ta t-s of thc strips fit and 5:2 to reni ler this engagement closer and in any evcnt a screw no is preferably passed through thc intermediate portions of the bar forming strips and secured by a thumb nut t3] which ma v lortn a handle for grasping: the bar and which also, of course. pie vents any independent movement of the net ting: and strips forming the bar. The out wardlv directed edges or flanges 5tand 37 of the bar form a llii t for the screen which may engage llatl v again t the sill 32 of the window casing when the screen is fully extended. As a means for securing the screen in cxlcndcd position. against the. tension of the. spring 35, I attach a platc i l to the pen-- tral portion of the sill tizl. This plate car rics a turn button t'il which may llt swung over the inner flange 57 ot' the bottom bar Till when the screen is in full) extended position to hold it in place. .\s shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. the lower wall of the housingltt extends nearly to the guide strips l5 and any possibility ol the bar Til) being drawn up into the housing. upon release of the screen. is prevented as its tiang'e M will engage the bottom wall of the housing; and so limit its upward utotcnicnt. ()t course. as will be appreciated b v rcl'crcnce to Fit. 7 of the itlrawings. the outwardly directed llangesfl-l and 57 ot' the bottom bar are ut away at their ends in order that the ends of the bar itself may extend into the guideways 45.

In applying the screen. constructed in accordance with my invention. the end walls aresecnred in place. the roller positioned between the end walls with the screen attached. the guidcwavs positioned in place.

i and the lower end of the screen inserted in the upper ends of the guidewavs. The roller may then be tested by drawing the screen to extended position to see if the spring is properly adjusted. If the spring is too tight dr too loose, the roller mav he tilted somewhat to bring the trunnion forming bolt 33 into the enlarged portion 22 of the slot when the spring may be properly adjusted by turning the bolt, aftet which the bolt is again moved into the inner end of the slot and so held against turning movement.

When the roller has been properly adjusted in this manner, the body portion proper of the casing is put in position and secured to the end walls as previouslydescribed.

Fromthe foregoing description of the construction and .afp lication of my improved roller screed or windows, it is believed that the manner of its employment will be readily understood and that any further explanation is unnecessary.

Although I have illustrated and described my invention in all its details of construe-- tion, it will be obvious that various con- (litirns concurrent with its manufacture and application may necessitate certain minor changes in construction and design and I reserve the right to make any alterations with in the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A roller window screen including a housing having end walls, one formed with a trunnion receiving opening and the other with a trunpion receiving slot, a roller in the housing having heads, one formed with a trunnion to seat in the opening of the ad- .jacent end wall of the housing and the otherformed with a central opening, a bolt extending through the opening and having a squared shank portion adjacent its head seating in the slot of the other end wall of the housing, the free end of the shank portion of the bolt being provided with a 1011' itudinal slot, a stud projecting from the end through which the bolt extends in spaced relation to the bolt, a spiral spring wound about the bolt with its inner end seated in the slot of the bolt and its outer end looped about the stud, a washer passed over the bolt and with the head forming a housing for the spring, means for preventing displacement of the washer, and a screen proper secured at one end to the roller and wound thereabout.

2.- A roller window screen including a spring roller, and adapted to be unwound therefrom, and a housing adapted to operatively receive the roller and to be positioned at the top of a window casing, walls adapted to "form bearings for the roller and provided at their inner edges with lateral flanges for attachment to the sash strips of the window casing and with outwardly directed ears, the outer ends of the walls being substantially semi-circular, a U-shaped body portion proportioned to snugly engage about the end walls and to project in spaced relation at its free edge to the sash strips, such body portion being of such length as to extend slightly beyond the end Walls and engage the ears, and fastening devices passed through the body and ears.

l. A roller window screen including a netting wound about the roller said housing including end a l housing having end walls, oneformed with a trunnion receiving bearing and the her with a downwardly and inwardly exten ing trunnion receiving slot enlarged adjacent its inner end, a spring roller mounted ingthe housing and having a trunnion at one end seating in the opening of one end of the housing and a spring carried trunnion in its opa squared portion engageand held against turning therein but free to turn when swung into the enlarged portion of the slot, and a screen secured at one end to the roller and adapted to be wound thereon and unwound therefrom.

4. A roller window screen including a housing adapted to be secured to a window easing, a spring roller mounted in the housing, a strip of screening connected at one end to the roller. and a brace bar secured to the. other end of the strip, the brace bar including co-aeting U-shaped body ortions, the free end of the screen strip eing re ent upon itself to seat between the sides of one body portion and being wedged therein by the insertion of one side of the otherriody posite end having able in the slot portion between it and its rebent po ion, both body portions being formed with o positely dipectcd flanges lying in a common plane to form a sill engaging base. i

5. A roller window ,screen including a housing adapted to be secured to a window easing, a spring roller mounted in the hbusing, a strip of screening ponnected atjone end to the roller, and a brace bar secured to the other end of the strip, the brace bar including co-acting U-shapod body portions, the free end of the screen strip bein" rebent upon itself to seat between the sid s of one body portion and being wedged theihin hr the insertion of one side ofthe other body portion betweenit and its rebent portion, both body portions being formed with oppositely directed flanges lying in a common planeto form a sill engaging ass, and a} bolt passed through the sides of the body,,lthe screen and its rebent terminal to bind all gether. v w. a"

6. A roller window screen including a housing, a spring roller mounted in the housing. a strip of netting secured at one end to the roller and eXtenSibIeQthrrefrOm, and gu'deways adapted for attagchment to the sides of a window casing to r uiveland support the lateral ed of the netting, said guideways including U-shaped portions adapted to receive the edges 0 the netting between their sides and laterally directed flanges projecting from the intermediate portions of one side of the body tions and adapted for attachment to the sash strips of the window.

7. A roller window screen including a housing having end walls, one formed with a trunnion receiving opening and the other with a trunnion receiving slot, :1 roller in the housing having heads, one formed with a trunnion to seat in the opening of the adjacent end Wall of the housing and the other formed with :1 central opening, an bolt extent}- ing through the opening and having a squared shank portion adjacent its head seating in the slot of the other end Wall of the housing the free end of theshank portion of the bolt 10 being provided with a longitudinni slot, :1 spirai spring wound about the bolt with its inner end seated in the slot thereof and its outer em] unehered to the head, and means for preventing movement of the spring 101']- gitmiinally of the bolt.

In testilnon v whereof. I afiix my signature.

\ ESLE v. BERGER. 1 8.] 

